Diamond restates financials

SAN FRANCISCO — After working several months to complete its preparation of restated consolidated financial statements, Diamond Foods, Inc. has filed the statements for fiscal years 2010 and 2011, and for the first three quarter of fiscal 2012.

Diamond Foods sustained a loss of $53,400,000 in the nine months ended April 30, 2012, which compared with net income of $23,733,000, equal to $1.08 per share on the common stock, in the first nine months of fiscal 2011.

Net sales for the period totaled $757,429,000, up 3.5% from $731,972,000 in the same period a year ago. Diamond said the increase reflected an 11% increase in culinary/retail in-shell sales and a 10% increase in snack sales, offset by a 36% decrease in total non-retail sales.

For the full year ended July 31, 2011, Diamond Foods said net income was $26,567,000, which compared with previously reported earnings of $50,211,000. For the full year ended July 31, 2010, net income was restated at $15,676,000, which compared with previously reported earnings of $26,211,000.

Diamond Foods has worked on restating and updating financial records since Feb. 8, 2012, when it said financial statements for the fiscal years 2010 and 2011 would need to be restated because of questions surrounding certain payments to walnut growers.

“Today Diamond made an important first step in becoming current with our financial reporting, and we look forward to completing our other required filings,” said Brian Driscoll, chief executive officer. “Clearly, the results for the first three quarters of 2012 demonstrate that Diamond faced challenges. However, we have a strong brand portfolio to build upon and have launched a new strategic direction with a focus on investing in innovation and brand building, significantly improving our cost structure and rebuilding our walnut supply.”

“For both Emerald and Kettle, Diamond has reduced trade spend to improve net price realization and leverage brand equity rather than use discounting as a means to drive sales,” the company said.

Emerald snack nuts and Kettle Brand potato chips sales were down 5.5% and 8%, respectively, year-over-year in the 12-week period ended Oct. 27, according to Nielsen, reflecting planned reductions in promotional spending.

Meanwhile, sales for Emerald Breakfast on the go! were up nearly 29%, and Pop Secret grew almost 12% during the period, Nielsen said.

In a Nov. 14 conference call with analysts, Mr. Driscoll stressed that Diamond continues to face several challenges that will require “comprehensive and aggressive measures.”

“Our margin profile has substantial room for improvement,” he said. “We are highly leveraged, and we have walnut supply challenges, issues with our Emerald brand and cost structure pressures. In order to tackle these issues, we have moved quickly to launch a wide ranging set of initiatives, with primary focus on cost reduction, capacity rationalization and improved net price realization. We have also initiated a significant shift in the company’s brand-building focus to a more balanced and sustainable growth model.”

Looking ahead to the remainder of fiscal 2012, Diamond Foods said full-year sales should total between $975 million and $980 million, with snacks sales forecast at $600 million to $605 million, and culinary sales at $290 million to $295 million.